Category: Inspirations

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Living The Life I Built

This past weekend I did one of the things that I truly love, and that was rent an Airbnb out of town and do some writing. It was so refreshing because it has been a minute since I did an Airbnb for the sole purpose of simply relaxing. Of course I went out to eat with a friend at my favorite restaurant in the area, and I went to my favorite thrift store, where I only purchased blouses for work and shorts for the Summer. When you no longer have the upkeep of a home (because you are house sharing), then you don’t really need to buy anything. In all honesty, I rarely needed to buy anything when I did run a complete household, but for some reason I was convinced that more is more. Oh what a relief to learn that less is more!

Nowadays I spend my time hanging out with family and friends, working part time, and traveling, which is what I prayed for. Recently I decided to have guests over for various gatherings, especially since the weather has finally kicked up a notch. Unfortunately my first gathering got canceled because my body decided not to cooperate, and I wasn’t able to clean or cook for several days leading up to the event. However, we will reschedule in a few months because next month is already booked with Mother’s Day and Memorial weekend.

All and all life is still good and I’m still pinching myself because I’m so tickled with my decision to become a minimalist over a year ago. Not only has this decision afforded me the opportunity to do many of the things that I only dreamed of, it is less stressful with the current economy, and it has also allowed me to be a blessing to others. I hope I am making God proud in all that I do with these last years that I have left. Obviously He’s not done with me yet, and I’m so glad, because I still have a few more amazing goals that I want to reach.

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Finding Focus in a Busy Mind

These past two months my brain has been all over the place. I don’t know about anyone else, but most days I forget what day it is. Between moving to a new place at the beginning of the year, the snow storm that lasted two weeks, and working sometimes 10 to 12 days in a row, I’m not sure which way is up. Trust me, I won’t complain because there are so many people right now who would trade places in a heartbeat. I praise God every time I open my eyes in the morning and before I close them at night.

Everybody is going through something no matter how much they smile in your face, how they show up on social media, or how they tell you that all is well. When I survey the landscape, I can’t think of anyone that I’ve talked to lately whom I would like to trade places with. Not saying that everyone is having a hard time, but what I am saying is, I’m okay with what’s on my plate! As the world turns, (pun intended), peace is my main focus while I continue to enjoy my life to the fullest (whatever I decide that means for me). I have more time behind me than I do in front, so when you see me taking risks and doing things that I thought I would never do, it’s because I waited so long to live life for myself rather than man’s protocol. I am extremely excited about the upcoming months and what my calendar looks like, other than work. To God be the Glory!

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Don’t Leave a Crack in The Door

There will always be doors opening and closing in your life. It is your job to decide how much emphasis you will place on the closed door versus the new one that is opening. If you continue to look back and wish that things were different or second guess yourself on why things happened the way they did, please know that the new door cannot swing open as wide. When you look for someone or something to place the blame, the universe cannot give you what you really need. It is not good to take the negative energy of what didn’t work out in the new door that is about to open. This the hardest principle to follow in life, but it is a necessary one. As women we want closure in all areas of life, not just relationships. We want to know what went wrong so we don’t make the same mistake twice. You did not make a mistake. Life is opening you to a new possibility by way of someone else not accepting who you are. Even if you had done things differently, you would still be preparing to step through another door. So do not beat yourself up! Of course it’s hard to remain calm when it always seem that you are the problem. Sometimes you ask God, why can’t another door open because of something someone else did? Why does it always seem to be about what you did or did not do? You get comfortable in places and show your real self and the relationship changes. Do not get mad with other people. Be thankful that God sees the future and your move may be His way of avoiding a disaster, because there is something more in line with your character. It will be hard to see this while you are trying to leave a crack in the door, hoping that something can be done to change the circumstances so you can go back. God is moving you forward, so stop looking back. Focus all your attention and positive energy on the new door that is staring you in the face.

Photo by Dima Pechurin on Unsplash

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Grateful While Going Through

“Grateful While Going Through”

Excerpts From a Sermon! (Rev. Dr. Joshua L. Mitchell – 31st Street Baptist Church – Richmond, VA)

  1. Stay grounded in God’s grace because gladness is not based on what’s going on around you.
  2. Be intentional in your intercession; pray on purpose, with purpose.  Stop dumping in prayer (telling God everything that needs to be fixed), and start dreaming in prayer! Share with God your hopes and dreams.
  3. Continue walking in God’s will because gratitude is our choice!  God gives us what we do not deserve or earn.

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It’s a Party Over Here!

It’s a Party Over Here!

When you finally realize that you have more years behind you than you do in front of you, life starts to take on new meaning.  I don’t know why it took turning 70 years old before I decided to make drastic changes that would allow me to enjoy life the way I always wished I could.  At the time of this writing, I am laying across the bed in an Airbnb that I booked for two days, although I just finished throwing myself a 40-year Breast Cancer Anniversary Party, all expenses paid by me, in addition to doing a Girl’s Trip two weeks ago out of town (we drove), at another Airbnb for the weekend.  I keep telling everyone that I am living my best life, which I am, although I have no idea what my life will look like three to six months from now.  Nothing in my life is written in stone!  That’s the way that I planned it back in January when I gave up my apartment to move in with strangers (a family).  I signed a six month lease, which ran out in July and is now month to month, so basically I could move with a 30-day notice.  So far I have committed myself to stay through Christmas, because I’m about to purchase a small Christmas tree for my bedroom.  But after then, who knows what I will do?

Part of my reason for moving was to travel, eat out more, and stop driving Uber, in addition to several financial goals.  So far I am booked for Lexington, VA in November and Fort Lauderdale, FL in December.  Haven’t decided where to go or what to do in January, because that’s my birthday month.  But you know I’m working on it!  Sometimes the not knowing is crazy, then other times it is quite enjoyable and mysterious.  It definitely keeps me on my toes and alert to what’s going on in the world and my immediate circles.  I just love watching God work things out and continue to surprise me!  Oh well, I’ll see you on the other side.

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The White Sheep of the Family

 

Photo by Topich on Unsplash

People always talk about the black sheep of the family.  Let’s talk about the other elephant in the room. The white sheep of the family! (Yes, I just made that up).

How would you like to be the person who was called the “pet” in the family, or the favorite child?  The person who is always picked on because of that, or reminded 30 or 40 years later that you were the one who got away with everything because you were considered the “good girl?”  Yeah, it can take a toll on you when you are always the butt of jokes at the gatherings!  And then you leave with all those thoughts still swirling around in your brain for several days.  Maybe some don’t even realize that your feelings have been hurt, especially when they weren’t the ones doing the hurting.  It can be a burden, an emotional burden, a mental burden, but nobody sees that because you bring it back home and you sit alone in that mental state of rehearsing it over and over, and wishing that it wasn’t always like that, wishing that the next gathering will be different, and you can just be who you are, regardless! Naturally the white sheep would never want to trade places with the black sheep, however the white sheep wants to be acknowledged, and want people to understand that it’s still painful, just probably not as painful as being the black sheep, but there’s pain nevertheless!

I encourage everyone to be mindful of what you say and do to others, whether they are friends or family.  It’s never OK to intentionally hurt people because you are so close and you think it doesn’t matter and they should be able to just take a joke.  Jokes hurt too!

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No Return Address

Photo by Rae Tian on Unsplash

No return address!  Have you ever received a piece of mail that you sent out, but it came back with the words, “Return to Sender – Address Unknown?”  I’m sure we all have had that happen to us.  I’ve even had mail returned where it was sent to a forwarding address and THAT address was unknown.  WOW!

There may be times when you show up in a room where you know that you are going to be uncomfortable, but God has a reason for putting you in that room.  There is something about your energy or your ability to transcend the obvious and get to the necessary!  There are things that will be sent to you by the Universe, and you can’t return them.  They came for a reason and to serve a purpose.

When I moved from South Carolina to Virginia, I had three return addresses.  I had the address I was supposed to be moving to when I left SC.  I had a P.O. Box as soon as I could get a driver’s license that proved I was a Virginia resident, and I had a third address, which was where I actually ended up living for a few months.  Sometimes God may send you to places without a “Return Address,” because He doesn’t want you to see a way out!  We always want to know what the final outcome will be before we take on certain tasks.  But when you are on an assignment for God there will be many days and nights when you are wondering why was I sent to do this?  Why am I out here in no man’s land trying to help somebody who sometimes doesn’t even want my help?  There are certain assignments on your life that only you can fulfill.   Recently we talked about FEAR in a Zoom meeting.  The fear of things that scare us, and why and how do we get pass that fear.  One answer was, “Do it afraid,” another suggested that you “do as much research as possible before taking a leap.”

Having “No return address” creates a situation where we MUST face our fear because the letter or the package (that thing you are afraid of), is being delivered to you whether you want it or not.  It’s not gonna be returned and it’s gonna keep showing up until you deal with it, because it has “No Return Address!”

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Let it Go

Photo by Thomas Peham on Unsplash

Let it go!  Whatever it is that has been racking your brain during this COVID-19, whether it is work or personal you need to just let it go.  This thing caught everyone of us off guard and it doesn’t matter your race or nationality, or whether you are rich or poor.  No one can buy or barter their way out of this!  So what do you do?  For some of us we do what we have never done before; trust God and hang in there.  For others we do what we have always done before; trust God and hang in there.  Although we have never experienced anything of this magnitude, we are surprised at our ability to adapt and most of all, we are surprised at how much we truly depend on each other for survival.  Does that mean that suddenly all is well with the world?  No it does not.  In some cases it has brought out the worst.  Yes, we still have crime. We still have hatred and racism.  There are folks who weren’t speaking to us before who still won’t speak once this is over.  Some of us will reevaluate our life priorities and take a serious look at what really matters, like our health and our family ties.  Others will stop doing some things and do more of other things to try and make up for time lost.  We will probably never take a hug for granted again.  The other day I got my first hug after two months of being in quarantine.  Wow!  I really miss the human touch.  No matter what the future holds there will be times when we simply have to Let it go!

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Who Switched the Price Tag

Who switched the price tag?  There are times when we find ourselves operating on “auto-pilot.”  We get so used to things happening a certain way that we don’t even give much thought to our daily activities.  We start our day the same, we have the same cup of coffee, we take the same route to work each day, and we sit in the same seat.  As the day goes on people pop in and out of our space and some speak while others don’t bother.  When asked how we are doing, we answer with vague responds such as, “Same old same old!”  Oh how I hate that response, and usually I will let the person know that it’s unacceptable in my world.

Even though I am considered by most a very positive and upbeat person, there are days when things get the best of me.  These past two years have been a test of my endurance in more ways than most will ever realize.  I have felt like the person who sees a sale price on TV or on-line, and when I get to the store the salesperson quotes me a much higher price.  My internal thoughts  immediately are, “Who switched the price tags?”  Of course they always have some type of story as to why the price is not what was seen elsewhere.  Then there are the stores that do the “bait and switch” where they give a low price just to get you in the door, but then they tell you that you really don’t want that item because it will not last or serve the purpose that you need.  Mattress stores are famous for doing the “bait and switch.”  I have yet to go into a mattress store and come out with the item that was advertised.  Those sale prices are not what you want no matter how good they make it sound during the commercial.

You can either accept the status quo and go through life simply surviving, or be the person who doesn’t fall for the “bait and switch.”  You get to decide the price tag of your purpose, your destiny, your future, and your Alabaster Oil!

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Preparation is the Key

Preparation is the key!  Knock and the door shall be opened. We hear that all the time, however what we fail to realize is no door is going to open for the person who is not prepared to walk through it.  When you really think about it, why would you want to walk inside a door that you are not ready to enter?  Many of us are being prepared for stuff that we haven’t asked for or even know is coming our way.  That’s just how God works.  One day you find yourself in the midst of a crowd that you never thought would envelop your gifts and talents, and the next thing you know someone slides your name to the right person who holds your next level key.  There are quite a few sayings that line up with being in the right place at the right time.  For example, “Be kind to strangers because you might be entertaining an angel,” or “Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.”  I am sure there are many more but those two came to mind for me.

In our daily walk it is important to acknowledge everyone as a human being and a child of God. I understand there may be times when it’s hard to do that.  We have a tendency to compare sins and pass judgment based on what a person looks like, the type of job they have, or how they create joy in their lives.  If they dance, or drink, or have children out of wedlock.  We place a number of expectations on others before we will consider them acceptable citizens not only in our spear of influence, but also in the world.  Who gave us the final say?  Where did our list of judgment items come from?  Unfortunately, with our limited vision of how big this world is we can easily mistake our way as being the only way.  In order to get prepared and be ready for your “level-up” it is imperative that you close your judgment eyes and open your vision to this amazing rainbow of people, who may be the catalyst for taking your gifts and talents to a world beyond where you stand.  Your next preparation assignment just might blow your mind, because preparation is the key that opens the door!